Summary and Analysis The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead : A Novel

Summary of The Underground Railroad The main character of this book is Cora. However, the story begins along with her grandmother, Ajarry, who was captured and sold into slavery as a youngster. She quickly learns to be submissive and to try to to what she is told. Ajarry understands that she is merely valuable to her owners if she understands her place within the world. This is why cora originally refuses to flee slavery with Caesar.

However, Caesar is persistent. After learning that the plantation is going to a new, harsher master, Cora agrees to hear more about his escape plan. When the new master burns a slave alive for attempting to escape, Cora finally agrees. They set out in the dead of night, and despite one of Cora's friends tagging along, make it off the plantation. However, they are set upon the next day and Cora's friend is captured and returned to the plantation while Cora and Caesar escape. With the help of a local shopkeeper, they make it to the Underground Railroad. Surprised by the massive amount of work it must have taken to build the underground tunnel, they are still happy to climb aboard the train when it arrives.

We next meet Ridgeway, a bully of a man who enjoys hunting down escaped slaves and returning them to their masters. He had be hired to find Mabel, Cora's mother, but failed. He is once again called to find Cora. However, Cora is happily living in South Carolina, under a new name. Both her and Caesar have jobs, are earning money, and are generally happy. They decide to stay in South Carolina.

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